PASSENGERS today refused to break with routine and took their usual bus into work despite Saturday's terror alert.

PASSENGERS today refused to break with routine and took their usual bus into work despite Saturday's terror alert.

Workers travelling into the city on the number 105 Sutton to Corporation Street route, rocked by a controlled explosion, were defiant.

There might have been a feeling of slight unease among many passengers, but it was twinned with an unmistakable determination to go about their business as usual.

"There seems to be pretty much the same number of people getting the bus this morning as usual," said Angela Burns, a 25-year-old IT worker of Church Road, Erdington.

"You just have to get on with it. I lived in Northern Ireland for a while and this kind of thing was a regular occurrence.

"I am a bit uneasy, especially as this is such a big city and could be a target, and because of what happened in London last week, but I think anyone would carry on and get the bus just the way we are." Bank worker Justin Gordon, aged 20, of Warren House Walk, Sutton Coldfield, was also catching the bus in Erdington.

"I think it's important everyone just carries on. I was thinking this morning more about the people in London rather than what happened in Birmingham on Saturday because no one died here."

John Bird, aged 48, of Stephens Road, Walmley, near Sutton Coldfield, monitors passenger numbers for bus firm Centro and regularly catches the 104 or 105 from Sutton - this morning was no different.

"In the short term I suppose passenger numbers may be affected, but people have to travel and I am no different."

Wendy Jones, aged 45, of Ilsley Road, Erdington, also catches the 104 or 105 buses into work at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Broad Street.

"I am not nervous about getting the bus, although it is a bit strange returning to Broad Street after it was evacuated. But you can't let terrorism affect your life."